Volume 27, 121

Tropical Grasslands (1993) Volume 27, 121–127

Successional pattern of mycoflora associated with litter degradation in a Cymbopogon caesius-dominated tropical grassland

K. SENTHILKUMAR, K. UDAIYAN and S. MANIAN

Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu India

Abstract

The pattern of fungal succession in Cymbopogon caesius-dominated tropical grassland in south India was studied by characterising litter mycoflora at different stages to understand the nature of litter degradation. The litter was dominated by numerous Hyphomycetes, and the fungal species of this substrate changed with progressive decomposition. The primary colonisers were mainly saprophytic fungi which survived well on undecomposed litter. The secondary colonisers were those capable of utilising high-molecular-weight compounds like lignin and cellulose. In the final stages of decomposition, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma viride showed high survivability and the high percentage occurrence emphasised their role as climax species in C. caesius grasslands.